German Second League: Bundesliga 2 Matchday - Cologne CFO Discusses Player Contract Details
Bundesliga relegation side 1. FC Cologne is in discussions with some players regarding the purchase of release clauses. With the FIFA transfer ban still active, the team can't sign new players. Commercial manager Philipp Türoff talked to the "Cologne Rundschau" (Saturday) about the negotiations: "As we can't bring in reinforcements this summer, it's obvious that players with release clauses will be our top priority. Money is important, no doubt. But not everything."
The team is about to lose some of its top talent. Captain and defensive leader Jeff Chabot (VfB Stuttgart) has already started the process. The chats about exercising the clauses weren't just after the season, Türoff shared. "But now is the time when these clauses with varying expiration dates become legally enforceable. We're under a lot of pressure."
Following the signing of Jaka Cuber Potocnik, the club faced criticism from his previous team Olimpija Ljubljana for reportedly encouraging the transfer. This led to a FIFA transfer ban for Cologne. "I'm sorry to be part of the management during the recruitment of the player and the ensuing penalties," Türoff, who took over the position in the last month of January 2022, stated.
